22 Hornet and 223 I Can't beleive the results I got!

MADISON · May 30, 2001, 06:07 PM

Over a period of several weeks I asked for help (1) Loading a 22 Hornet with 2400 and, (2)Problems with a Ruger Ultra-Lite.

22 Hornet:
I fired 9.7 grains of 2400 behind a 45 grain bullet in my 77/22-H. Alliant said it was over max, as did some of you. Hornady and Sierra said max was 10.0 grains. I got a nickle size groupe. No pressure or, primer problems.

223 Remmengtion:
I fired 25.0 grains of W-748 behind a 60 grain bullet and got a 1 1/2 inch groupe. I had some experminental loads. I got a 3/4 inch group loading 21.5 grains of W-748 a 55 grain bullet. The extimated velocity is 2620. That little 223 barrel does not like full loads!

Poodleshooter · June 1, 2001, 10:40 AM

Yup, that jives with my conclusions as well about 55 and 60gr bullets in the .223. Speed kills accuracy in my rifle. I've found my best accuracy out of my 20" HBAR Colt was at 24.5grs of 748. 25 yielded about 1.25", 26 was up to 2.5" 26.5 was almost 4" (all at 100yds). I haven't gone down to 24 or lower yet, but now I'll have to try! Just out of curiosity, what rifling twist and barrel length is your Ruger .223?

MADISON · June 2, 2001, 09:29 PM

Poodleshooter:
A phone call to Ruger informed me the twist was 1 in 10. I put a cleaning rod down the bore and found it to be 1 in 12.
MADISON

uglygun · June 3, 2001, 04:43 AM

I've had good results with 40grn Vmaxes moving at warp speed from my 1:9 twist 223Rem. 3/4 inch 10shot groups and these weren't the most carefully loaded rounds, just to make sure it wasn't a fluke I shot four 10 shot groups. 6-7 shots would go through such an incredibly small hole while the others were responsible for pushing out to 3/4 inch, gonna remember to tweak this load further when I get back to it.

The powder used was AA2015BR and it was definitely a load I would consider hot as it was just below max. Work up to it if fly weight bullets in the 223Rem is your thing. I'm gonna be playing around with the 40grn BlitzKings next with AA2015, I've had good results with them before but I wasn't using the same powder as I was with the Vmaxes.

Bogie · June 4, 2001, 04:10 PM

Disclaimer: I shoot benchrest.

Find yourself a 200 yard range. Side to side wind is okay, but no head or tailwind. 3 shot groups. Start at your starting load, and work up in half-grain increments. You'll see your vertical groups getting shorter. Where they're shortest is where your barrels' sweet spots are, and you'll get the most accuracy.

I worked up a load in this fashion a couple of weeks ago. Fired maybe 40 rounds total while doing so. Shot the load, and finished third for one day at the Supershoot, with a 0.2014" average for five five-shot groups at 100 yards.

June 2, 2001, 09:29 PM	#3
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	223 Ruger Ultra-Lite Twist Poodleshooter: A phone call to Ruger informed me the twist was 1 in 10. I put a cleaning rod down the bore and found it to be 1 in 12. MADISON

May 30, 2001, 06:07 PM	#1
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	Over a period of several weeks I asked for help (1) Loading a 22 Hornet with 2400 and, (2)Problems with a Ruger Ultra-Lite. 22 Hornet: I fired 9.7 grains of 2400 behind a 45 grain bullet in my 77/22-H. Alliant said it was over max, as did some of you. Hornady and Sierra said max was 10.0 grains. I got a nickle size groupe. No pressure or, primer problems. 223 Remmengtion: I fired 25.0 grains of W-748 behind a 60 grain bullet and got a 1 1/2 inch groupe. I had some experminental loads. I got a 3/4 inch group loading 21.5 grains of W-748 a 55 grain bullet. The extimated velocity is 2620. That little 223 barrel does not like full loads!

June 1, 2001, 10:40 AM	#2
Poodleshooter Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2000 Location: Floating down the James River in VA Posts: 2,599	Yup, that jives with my conclusions as well about 55 and 60gr bullets in the .223. Speed kills accuracy in my rifle. I've found my best accuracy out of my 20" HBAR Colt was at 24.5grs of 748. 25 yielded about 1.25", 26 was up to 2.5" 26.5 was almost 4" (all at 100yds). I haven't gone down to 24 or lower yet, but now I'll have to try! Just out of curiosity, what rifling twist and barrel length is your Ruger .223?

June 3, 2001, 04:43 AM	#4
uglygun Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2001 Location: Cowpie Ca Posts: 552	I've had good results with 40grn Vmaxes moving at warp speed from my 1:9 twist 223Rem. 3/4 inch 10shot groups and these weren't the most carefully loaded rounds, just to make sure it wasn't a fluke I shot four 10 shot groups. 6-7 shots would go through such an incredibly small hole while the others were responsible for pushing out to 3/4 inch, gonna remember to tweak this load further when I get back to it. The powder used was AA2015BR and it was definitely a load I would consider hot as it was just below max. Work up to it if fly weight bullets in the 223Rem is your thing. I'm gonna be playing around with the 40grn BlitzKings next with AA2015, I've had good results with them before but I wasn't using the same powder as I was with the Vmaxes.

June 4, 2001, 04:10 PM	#5
Bogie Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2000 Location: Job hunting on the road... Posts: 3,827	Disclaimer: I shoot benchrest. Find yourself a 200 yard range. Side to side wind is okay, but no head or tailwind. 3 shot groups. Start at your starting load, and work up in half-grain increments. You'll see your vertical groups getting shorter. Where they're shortest is where your barrels' sweet spots are, and you'll get the most accuracy. I worked up a load in this fashion a couple of weeks ago. Fired maybe 40 rounds total while doing so. Shot the load, and finished third for one day at the Supershoot, with a 0.2014" average for five five-shot groups at 100 yards.